The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-01

A correspondent writes TO the FEeId:
We had news Of q large black bear. 20
i sent on my shikari and rife to the
Oak Bungalow Of Doonga Gully, where
i was to sleep. ! arrived at the bung-
allow toward the small hours Of the
morning. The shikaFi was waiting 70
say that he had got traeker, and We
were TO start for the bear at 8 q. m.
After walk Of six miles of the steep
est climbing ever had. and hanging
on to fearful precipices-those of the
Himalayas must be seen 10 be under
stood-we came on the bears fresh
tracks. He was evidently large one
from his pugs (foot mark. We
tracked him for some distance TO the
edge Of . terrible incline. We were
at . height Of over ten thousand feet,
and there WA snow in al Of the ra-
vines The traeker went on in front.
and presently came back with .
face Of delight to say that the bear was
lying on rock Just outside his cave,
taking air. It was now so steep that /
had TO take of my shooting boots aud
walk with bare feet, as n slip would
have been fatal. Luckily there was
strong breeze blowing from the bear
up to us, so there was no danger Of his
scenting us, which is most to be feared
in bear-stalking. Down we went to-
ward him, creeping nearer and nearer,
until we got within forty yards. Ny
shikari had now become so excited
that he was shaking all over, and kePE
telling me to fire. wanted, howeEar,
to make sure, so crept on till within
twenty PAGES. The shikari's excite
ment now became intense, and he
nearly spoiled the whole thing. In
trying to restrain himself he coughsd
loudly, and up sprang the bear. At
once / gave him the right barrel in the
shoulder; but it seemed to have no ef-
feet, and on he charged straight at rs,
making terrific shindy. / gave him
the left barrel in the middle of his
body, and the shock of the bullet rolled
him over, but he contriyed 10 get into
his cave, to which he was close, before
/ could give him another bullet. Know
ing he was MORALLY wounded. We
waited half an hour before reconn0itar-
ing. We then went to the care. bns,it
was so deep and dark that We could do
nothing. Getting lot Of wood, We
tried to smoke him out, but he did nos
show. We then sat down, and, after Q
council Of war, concluded we could do
nothing without light and help. I
therefore remained with the shikari
while the traeker went back to Doonga
for lantern, which in due time ar
rived. We then entered the cave, the
shikari first with his lantern and q
knife, and ] next with the rife. The
cave was very narrow and went far in
to the rock. We had got about twenty
yards when suddenly the bear, who
was hidden behind turn in the cave,
gave roar, seized the shikari's hand
and lantern, tore his arm and leg, and
left US in perfect darkness. How we
got out of that cave / know not, but
we did so with very fair average
speed. Luckily, the bear was injured
so that he could not rise on his hind
legs; as we afterward found, the bot
tom Of his spine was S.aashed, and the
bullet in his intestines. but he had Just
been able to strike at the shikari. To
make long story short, the bear died
the next day, and man with long
torch went into the cave and the car
cass was pulled out It measured six
feet from nose to tail and five feet nine
inches round the chest